Yesterday was lesson #2 of our new, buckled-down, every-other-week dressage lesson schedule. It might not seem like much to most people, but a dressage lesson every other week is by far the most we’ve had, like…ever. Usually it’s more like once every few months. Which is probably obvious to literally anyone that has ever watched us dressage.

Henry was not particularly enthused about me throwing him on the trailer mere minutes before dinner time, and he was even less enthused when we arrived and he saw where we were. He knows by now that nothing fun ever happens at the fancy place with the wall of mirrors. This week’s lesson started much the same as last week’s (because does anything that exciting ever happen in dressage? No.) and then quickly progressed to a lot of haunches-in work. My dressage trainer is a protege of Charles de Kunffy, thus is big into using particular exercises to “gymnasticize” or strengthen parts of the horse that might be weak. For Henry that’s his lower lumbar/SI area, and Dressage Trainer likes to use haunches-in work to help strengthen that area. Of course, Henry is weak there, so it’s hard work for him, especially to the right. It’s like bodybuilding for him (we won’t talk about how much my own abs and thighs hurt today).

We did haunches-in on a circle, then on the long sides, and eventually graduated to doing some baby half pass. I have toyed with the concept a few times with Henry before, but not much. This is the first time we’ve worked on it for real. The trot was a struggle at first but he finally “got it” a bit after a few tries. At the canter it was much easier (this is always the theme with Henry), with Dressage Trainer even saying he has some talent for the canter half pass. Granted, it was all very very very rudimentary attempts at half pass, with varying levels of success.

I have to say though, I’m ready for this supposed cold front to hit Texas already, because I had sweat flowing freely down my face and directly into my right eye by the end of the lesson. Not that my riding is any worse when I’m essentially blind. It’s just uncomfortable. And our one-handed lengthenings, as I’m trying desperately to clear the sweat from my eye, are not so good.

I also did a thing and entered the event that I swore up and down I wouldn’t, because their XC is on steroids. I’m just gonna jump everything with my eyes closed, I think. That should be fine. $20 and my eternal gratitude to anyone who goes out and burns this thing down before November 11.

Oh, and guess what came in the mail from Germany? Sadie’s official, newly re-issued, upgraded, COMPLETE papers/passport! She’s 100% legit now!

Many thanks to the folks at RPSI/Westfalen and The Jockey Club for helping me get everything sorted out, DNA uncovered, and pedigree fixed! Her papers being incomplete has been the source of much stress, anger, and disappointment over the last 10 years (yes TEN), so to finally have them look the way they should have all along really makes me happy.